BAMAKO, Mali – Gunmen attacked a well-liked building in Mali’s capital on Friday with guns and grenades, authorities and a witness same, taking countless hostages. A Malian official same a minimum of 3 people were killed within the raid, however their identities remained unclear.

CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips says the attack concerned as several as ten militants who – in step with a neighborhood army commander – rammed into the building grounds during a vehicle, firing guns and exploitation grenades. Witnesses aforementioned the attackers were shouting “Allahu Akbar,” or “God is great,” the jihadist battle cry.

A statement provided to the BBC by the Rezidor building cluster aforementioned it “understands that a hostage-taking is beneath way” at the Radisson Blu in Bamako. “According to our data, 2 people ar holding a hundred and forty purchasers and thirty staff.”

The Reuters agency later according that a number of the hostages had been freed, together with people who were able to recite verses from the sacred writing. Reuters according that Turkish Airlines workers and Chinese nationals were among those control within the building.

Security forces drive an self-propelled vehicle close to the Radisson building in Bamako, Mali, Nov 20, 2015. REUTERS/Adama Diarra

Several hours when the besieging began, Malian Special Forces were seen coming into the building building.

The incident comes with Europe on high alert within the wake of the Paris attacks, that left 129 individuals dead and scores a lot of wounded every week earlier. A minimum of 9 ISIS-linked militants stormed restaurants and cafes, a bowl and a concert venue in those attacks.

The suspected organizer, Belgian jihadist Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was killed Wed morning in bloody police raid north of the French capital, along side 2 alternative still-unidentified people.

The U.S. Embassy in Mali asked voters to shelter in situ amid reports of an “ongoing active shooter operation” at the building.

Reports of shot surfaced Friday morning on social media, though Lt. Col. Diarran Kone, an consultant with Mali’s defense ministry, aforementioned the circumstances remained unclear.

Onlookers gather close to the Radisson Blu edifice when gunmen stormed the building in Bamako, Mali, Friday, Nov. 20, 2015.

Following a military coup in 2012, monotheism extremists took management of northern Mali, prompting a French-led military intervention in early 2013. The extremists were scattered from northern cities and cities, although the north remains insecure and militant attacks have extended farther south this year.

The teams that took management of the territory in northern Mali weren’t ISIS-affiliated, however had instead pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahri.

However, ISIS is understood to move within the region, and there have been no immediate claims of responsibility to counsel that cluster can be behind the attack in national capital.

Jihadist activities are for the most part focused within the north of the country, in areas outside the management of Malian forces, however the violence has unfold any south this year.

In March covert gunmen shot up a Bamako restaurant popular foreigners, killing 5 individuals.